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Planning for Spring with Half Pint Farm

January 28, 2015

Mara and Spencer Welton are the husband and wife duo behind Half Pint Farm in Burlington’s Intervale. Half Pint Farm has become the go-to farm for chefs looking for baby vegetables as well as interesting, new varieties. As the president of Slow Food Vermont and an accomplished cook herself, Mara has her finger on the pulse of what’s new in the culinary world. 

What are Mara and Spencer up to on a snowy day in January?
Having the “big meeting…” 

We caught up with Mara just before she and Spencer sat down for their "big meeting", where they start planning their 2015 growing season. Together, they discuss their vision for the farm, the changes they want to make, their budget, and tackle the pile of seed catalogs they have been patiently collecting. Before Valentines Day, Mara will have met with about half of the chefs she works with to discuss their needs and requests for the upcoming season. The chef meetings set-up expectations and lay the groundwork for a strong and committed partnership, and chefs can go comfortably into menu planning knowing that Half Pint Farm is growing for them!

Mara is ready for the best season ever, sharing "this season will be off the hook! I know how to grow, I love to farm--I'm passionate about my work." (We can't wait to see her beautiful produce stand this summer at the Burlington Farmers' Market!) 

You can also find Mara with both her farmer and chef hat on this Friday at the South End Kitchen where she’ll be cooking up a Mexican feast with Chef Amy Bacon. Expect a delicious dinner with a storyline, as Mara shares stories about her farm and her family food traditions. The meal will feature Half Pint Farm ingredients like chile peppers and tomatoes that Mara has preserved to brighten up a winter meal, and remind you that spring is just around the corner.

 

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